Platforms & Sensors

Current platform configurations include both a traditional Fixed Wing UAVs and Vertical Take-Off & Landing VTOL systems. Sensors range from Scientific Lumenera cameras (RGB & NIR imagery) and ICI Thermal cameras to custom sensors that can be adapted/modified to either platform for scientific research applications.

Platforms

GreatBlue - Hybrid VTOL/Fixed Wing

3 Payload Camera Configuration
Flight Ceiling 10,000 ft MSL
Image Resolution: 0.02 m to 0.20 m (visual bands)
Single-Flight Max at 2600 ft AGL & 16,000 Acres
Linear Range: 120+ miles
Cruise Speed 50 mph (22m/s)

GreatBlue is AggieAir's newest aerial platform. This transition sUAS utilizes vertical flight for take off and landing, as well as fixed-wing flight for 2.5+ hours of flight time. The platform itself weighs 13 lbs, with a max takeoff weight of 55 lbs including an 11 lb payload, and is made of a Kevlar material which is light and durable.

Minion - Fixed Wing

3 Payload Camera Configuration
Flight Elevation: 120 m to 1,000 m AGL
Image Resolution: 0.02 m to 0.20 m (visual bands)
Coverage Area: 5 sq miles
Linear Distance: 50 miles
Speed: 30-35 mph

Minion 2.0 is AggieAir’s current main aerial platform. Designed specially for aerial remote sensing independent of a runway.

Matrice - VTOL

3 Payload Camera Configuration
Flight Duration: 30 minutes
Coverage Area:
Linear Distance: 5 km
Speed:

AggieAir utilizes two of these multi-rodor drones in it's UAV fleet. The DJI Matrice 600 has improved flight performance and better loading capacities for AggieAir's payload configuaration.

Payloads

MicaSense Altum Camera Sensor

This advanced camera, produced by MicaSense, integrates a radiometric thermal camera with five high resolution narrow bands, (Red, Green, Blue, red edge and near-IR). Five high-resolution lenses result in detailed scientific imagery and detailed digital surface models. This camera comes with DLS 2, a light sensor with cutting-edge technology for irradiance and sun angle measurements.

Resolution	Field of View	Weight	Spectral Bands
3.2 MP	48 x 37 degrees	14.34 oz	Blue, Green, Red, Red Edge, Near Infrared

Flight Altitude (Above Ground Level)	Swadth Width	Ground Resolution
400m	113 m	3.2 MP: 81 cm

Lumenera Lt965R & Lt1265R Camera Sensors

Lumenera's industrial-grade cameras give AggieAir the ability to capture and save time synchronized, high-quality raw images at 1.5 FPS at full resolution. This camera is used with a high-quality Schneider 16mm lens. The resolving power of this lens is matched to the camera and produces crsip, clear images.

Resolution	Field of View	Weight	Spectral Bands
9MP (3376x2704) or	9MP (43x35) or	286g	Color (Red, Green, Blue) Mono (NIR, RedEdge, Yellow, etc)
12 MP (4240x2832)	12MP (45x31)	286g	Color (Red, Green, Blue) Mono (NIR, RedEdge, Yellow, etc)

Flight Altitude (Above Ground Level)	Swadth Width	Ground Resolution
200m	12MP: 115m	12MP: 4cm
500m	12MP: 288m	12MP: 10cm
1000m	12MP: 575m	12MP: 19cm

ICI 9640 Thermal Camera Sensor

This IR camera is the upgraded version of the ICI 7640 and has many of the same great features. However, it comes in a much smaller package and has a non-uniformity correction flag. Like the 7640, the 9640is radiometric and comes calibrated using an intense lab calibration procedure. Additional calibration is performed during the flight to compensate for effects of atmosphere and convection.

Resolution	Field of View	Weight	Spectral Bands
640 x 480	44 x 34 degrees	100g	7µm-14µm

Flight Altitude (Above Ground Level)	Swadth Width	Ground Resolution
200m	113m	0.25m
500m	284m	0.65m
1000m	567m	1.26m

Spectral Filters

Spectral filters are commonly used to either select or eliminate information for an image based on the wavelength of the information primarily determined by light passing through a glass or plastic window specially treated to transmit or absorb/reflect some wavelengths. The AggieAir Service Center has the following available filters:

Yellow

(575 - 625 nm)
Feature classification
Enhances the yellow hue found in aquatic & land vegetation

LandSat NIR

(830 - 880 nm)
Broader vegetation analysis
Biomass studies

Vegetation Red Edge

(675 - 725 nm)
Measures plant health
Vegetation classification

LandSat Red

(630 - 680 nm)
Vegetation discrimination
Specializes in bare soil & road classification
Geological feature visibility

Coastal Blue

(400 - 450 nm)
Vegetation analysis
Enhances bathymetric studies

RGB LandSat

(450-690 nm)
Aquatic Habitat Studies

Propeller Aeropoints

Propeller Aeropoints are smart ground control targets with built in GNSS that makes accurate remote sensing data both extremely easy and quick to capture.

Scientific Equipment

Various equipment can be used to customize every mission's agenda. Below are a few of the options available.

Portable Davis Vantage Pro Weather Station

This portable weather station can be located on-site & contains a suite of sensors including an anemoeter, rain collector, temperature, humidity, and solar irradiance sensor.

Air Quality Sensors

This sensor is used to measure ozone levels.

Total Station

An electronic instrument used for surveying, reading slope distances and performing advanced coordinate calculations.

Leaf Area Index Sensor

Sensor used to describe the state and progress of crop canopies.

Portable Soil Moisture Sensor

Portable sensor to measure soil moisture content.

Mounted Weather Station

This weather station records humidity, atmospheric pressure, and air temperature.

RTK GPS

This system is designed to enhance the precision of position data derived from satellites.

Hyperspectral Sensor

This sensor allows us to obtain the spectrum for each pixel in the image of a scene.

Portable SPAD 502 Chlorophyll Meter

A lightweight handheld meter used to measure chlorophyll content of leaves without causing damage to plants.

Scintillometer

Sensor to measure energy fluxes and scintillation of light caused by atmospheric conditions.

Incident Light Sensor

This sensor compensates for cloud cover, haze, and
shifting solar intensity.